Emmanuel Petit is confident Chelsea have the resources to mount a serious challenge in the Barclaycard Premiership and Champions League this season.

Emmanuel Petit is confident Chelsea have the resources to mount a serious challenge in the Barclaycard Premiership and Champions League this season.

These days it almost takes two teams to compete successfully in the two major competitions - but after a summer spending spree of more than &#xA3;100m, Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri has exactly that luxury.

Against Tottenham on Saturday, Ranieri was able to rest the likes of Wayne Bridge, Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo - while Claude Makelele started on the bench, and Geremi was suspended for the 4-2 victory.

However, Ranieri is likely to make at least five changes for tonight's Champions League Group G clash away to Sparta Prague.

Petit, who has played Champions League football for Monaco, Arsenal and Barcelona, will be hoping he keeps his place.

But whether or not he plays, he believes Chelsea have the strength in depth to establish themselves as a major force on both the domestic and European scenes this season.

"The fact that we have so many players now will make a difference," said Petit.

"The way I see it is very simple. From now until I don't know when we are going to play almost every three days. If you want togo as far as possible you have to win every game.

"You don't differentiate - because if you put all your energy and hopes in the Premier League you can forget the Champions League, and vice-versa.

"You concentrate on every game, game after game. You have to find a rhythm."

Two of Petit's rivals for a place in the Chelsea team tonight - Joe Cole and Adrian Mutu - both think they are worthy of making their Champions League debuts.

Romanian Mutu, who scored twice against Spurs, said: "The players around me here have helped me adapt quickly to football in this country, and I am very happy now to be going into the Champions League. I hope I will be in the team and make a good debut."

Cole said: "I feel I deserve a chance on my performances, and all I can do is keep coming on and playing well.

"I don't want to be labelled with the supersub tag. I'm confident in my ability - I think I can hold down a place here."